Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1493

Introduced

2/17/25

Refer

2/17/25

Report Pass

2/27/25

Engrossed

3/4/25

Enrolled

3/6/25

Chaptered

3/12/25

Passed

3/12/25

Caption

An Act For The Institutions Of Higher Education Capital Improvement Appropriation.

Summary

HB1493 is a capital improvement appropriation act for Arkansas institutions of higher education. It allocates Development and Enhancement Fund money to a wide range of public colleges and universities across the state for construction, renovation, repair, maintenance, technology upgrades, safety systems, and equipment/library replacements. The bill covers projects such as roof replacements, HVAC and electrical work, classroom and lab renovations, health sciences and workforce training facilities, campus security upgrades, and new or expanded buildings at multiple campuses. The measure is structured as a series of institution-specific appropriations with dollar caps for each project, rather than a policy change to higher education governance. It also includes standard fiscal controls limiting contracts to available treasury funds, allowing supplemental use of grants, donations, federal funds, and institutional cash, and requiring compliance with state purchasing, accounting, and budgetary laws. An emergency clause makes the act effective July 1, 2025, reflecting the need for timely capital funding in the new fiscal year.

Impact

HB1493 appropriates state funds for capital projects at Arkansas public higher education institutions and community colleges, authorizing spending from the Development and Enhancement Fund for specified construction and maintenance purposes. It does not amend substantive education law, but it does affect state budgeting and fiscal administration by directing funds to named campuses and projects, imposing disbursement controls, and prohibiting use of general maintenance-and-operations funds for these projects. The act also reinforces compliance with existing fiscal control statutes and becomes effective for the 2025-2026 budget cycle.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad bipartisan or at least noncontroversial support, as reflected by unanimous floor votes in both chambers: 95-0 in the House and 34-0 in the Senate on third reading. No committee transcript or recorded debate is provided, and there is no indication of significant opposition in the available history. The overall sentiment is therefore strongly favorable, consistent with a routine appropriations measure supporting campus infrastructure needs.

Contention

No notable substantive contention is evident in the available record. Because the bill is an omnibus capital appropriation, any potential concerns would likely relate to the size, distribution, or prioritization of projects among institutions, but no such objections are documented in the provided transcripts or votes. The unanimous votes suggest that legislators viewed the projects as necessary maintenance and infrastructure investments rather than controversial policy choices.

Latest AR HB1493 Activity

View All Events: AR 2025 Regular Session HB1493

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Similar Bills

MD SB282

Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027)

MD HB390

Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027)

MD HB0390

Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2027)

MD HB350

Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2026)

MD SB319

Budget Bill (Fiscal Year 2026)

PA HB1330

To provide appropriations from the General Fund for the expenses of certain agencies of the Executive Department for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

PA SB160

To provide appropriations from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Commonwealth, the public debt and the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025; to provide appropriations from special funds and accounts to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025; and to provide for the additional appropriation of Federal and State funds to the Executive and Legislative Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

PA SB1220

To provide appropriations from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Commonwealth, the public debt and the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026; to provide appropriations from special funds and accounts to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.